Other people’s dreams are rarely that fascinating, so I’ll try to bear that in mind as I write. I dream vividly, unlike my husband, who claims to remember nothing, apart from the occasional surreal adventure, involving, wouldn’t you know it, car chases and shoot-outs! I remember atmospheres more than incidents – sometimes spooky and disturbing, sometimes joyful. Sometimes I awake with a sense of deep loss, although for what I’m not sure. Recently I’ve been dreaming of kingfishers (well, twice). A stretch of shimmering water, a close-up flash of a bird, all jewel colours and bright eyes. I’ve duly read up on the mythology of the kingfisher, that harbinger of the eponymous Halcyon days, when the bird breeds in the calm waters and the world enjoys respite from winter. I’ve read the myth of the original Alcyone, changed into a Kingfisher and forever swooping plaintively over the waves. I also read with interest that there is a link with my favourite constellation, the Pleiades, as one story has it that the original seven sisters were changed into kingfishers before taking their appointed place in the heavens. Cait O’Connor, (why can't I get a link to appear?), told me that Kingfisher in Welsh is Glas Y Dorlan – blue of the river. How beautiful. Maybe this all has some significance to me; I have been feeling mellow lately, with my husband no longer constantly away from home – I feel like the family is back in shallow waters, after the storms, paddling happily.
Yesterday K and I saw a kingfisher by the shallow stream that runs through the village, as we were walking back from dropping J at school. I saw the sudden, unexpected flash of colour and grabbed K, willing him to reappear. He did, this blue of the river, diving in to catch a fish, showing off. My daughter acknowledged his beauty nonchalantly, but was disapproving; censorious by nature, she thought he shouldn’t have snatched the fish. I just smiled at him in delighted recognition.
Unfortunately, last night I dreamed of a tiger – huge striped flanks appearing through the roses in the garden, a cruel velvety death awaiting us if we dared to step outside. I woke sweating and terrified to the imagined sound of it’s roar. I hope my foray into prophecy isn’t repeated.
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24 comments:
Morning Suffolkmum. I have finally read all your blogs after a long enforced absence! Lovely to catch up again. I remember reading those books too - so funny now! What pony books did you have? I was addicted to the Ruby Ferguson 'Jill and the Perfect Pony' series. Wonder what the tiger in your dream means? xx
What a nice pace you are living at...
Men and women do seem to differ in relation to dreams and recollection of them, I agree. Your post reminded me of being shown sunsets and flowers by my mother and having no interest in them at all. Now I can't wait to get out into the countryside.
What a lovely blog. Bodran and I saw kingfishers when we walked her hedgerow cookery walk, fabulous. Tigers can be power and beauty as well as cruelty. We need the kingfisher and the tiger in us, I think.
It's years since I've seen a kingfisher but remember vividly that flash of blue. Can't help on the dream interpretation I'm afraid but I do know that Tom claims not to dream so it does seem to be a boy thing!
That was lovely Suffolk Mum. I have never seen a kingfisher-they are very beautiful.
I also have very vivid dreams. Mine have been slightly disturbing lately-teeth falling out/crumbling and being lost and not able to get out of a house. There has to be something in them. I have a friend who has a dream book so I will try and remember to ask her the significance of the Tiger!
Have some hot milk and biscuits before bed tonight-it works for me!
warm wishes
xx
I have very vivid dreams too and that same sense of loss that can hang around like grief for a forgotten but lost life.
Bizzarre isn't it.
Hi - well I have a kingfisher here on the pond but as yet no tigers. So I am hopeful. I rarely dream - what does that say about me I wonder. So glad you are better and I must say I feel on the mend today - at last.
Perhaps we are all on the cusp and life will improve for lots of us. I do hope so. love mousie
This kingfisher is a true symbol for you as it keeps appearing, in dreams and in reality. (I had the same experience with parrots once). It is an interesting link with your favourite Pleiades constellation, makes you think doesn't it?
I haven't seen our Glas y Dorlan yet this year but I haven't been sitting by the river much - too many sunny hours on the computer, how sad is that? Worry not about that tiger, he is a sign of your strength I feel.
I dream most every night too, why doesn't that surprise you? :)
Caitx
I find other people's dreams interesting. When you said about the deep sense of loss I remember once I dreamt about my husband and children (a dream husband and children) and actually woke in tears because I had to leave them and come back to my real life. I felt a sense of loss for days. At the time I was married and had children. It was very strange.
I also have different houses that I visit in my dreams, and when I'm there I think 'Oh good, i'm in this one' and I enjoy being in that house for that dream, if you see what I mean.
I adore kingfishers because they remind me of my father. I see the blue of the river occasionly here when I'm sitting on the island. Its such a treat. Daddy used to tell a story of how when he was fishing once a kingfisher came and sat on the end of his rod, waiting for the catch!
I too was addicted to Jill books and anything horsey!
Very intereested to hear about The Kingfisher dreams and your investigations and then seeing a real one, coincidence ? All very fascinating.
Thank you for your message and your advice, makes good sense.
I'll let you know what I decide, once I've found out how flexible I can be, I plan to talk to current DD tomorrow for her opinion..
Wonderful blog as always SM. You write so evocatively and I too have very vivid dreams but no idea what they mean.
Thanks for taking my light-hearted comments in the spirit in which they were intended. Feeling a bit sensitive at the moment and worried about upsetting anyone. Now Missy, if you're ordinary there's no hope for anyone else!!!
have just been doing mammoth catch up...have just relaxed in three if not four of your blogs...your writing is so like watching the sea..the moods change and ebb and flow....I loved the descriptions of the old house
So beautifully written, as ever, SM. I used to see a kingfisher fairly regularly when we used to visit J's aunt in Shoreham, Kent. She used to live in a cottage that backed down to the river and we would sit on the bench with a coffee, right down by the water's edge and watch it darting around. Mesmerisingly beautiful.xx
You're tagged!
The electric blue flash of the kingfisher always feels like some sort of blessing to me. It never fails to make me catch my breath, no matter how gloomy or miserable I feel, it cheers me up. Ah, the wonder of nature, again!
Me again - I wanted to thank you for your lovely comments on my Wed blog - feeling so much better for all the wonderful support and sound advice received from purple world and far more positive (huurah!) xx
Kingfishers do 'flash' don't they. I've only ever seen one, it is rather magical.
Your tiger dream sounds alarming, I've had dreams where there is extreme danger lurking amongst beauty...no idea what it means, too much cheese perhaps? Let's hope so.
Pigx
What a lovely peaceful blog. I don't know much about dreams and their meanings, my mum and I have a similar dream about a huge rambling house full of people we know in the dream, but don't when we waken, nly found out we have the same dream a few years back. Strange how the mind works. Hope you are feeling better, good for you revisiting all of those childhood books. I have started to do that as I read to my children.
A beautiful bird indeed. We have one near the burn, which does also show off, however, with good reason. Thoroughly enjoyable blog, Crystal x
Now, the second mention of a kingfisher today - so meaning on meaning....love kingfishers and don't forget, of course, that the King Fisher is also the Fisher King....the wounded king of Arthurian legend... But personally that always seems like a heavy burden on a bird that is sheer light and joy....
The Tiger though, burning bright.... what does a tiger mean to you? I'd be tempted along lines of one's feminine power...how is yours? Do you need to nurture your inner tiger? Or unleash her? Or embrace her?
My old Jungian therapist would say draw or paint your tiger.....or try talking to her - have her write her own blog...
Adrian never dreams either - or of football or beer. I meanwhile, have about twenty volumes of dream diaries!
I've never seen a kingfisher either, but what a lovely thing to dream of. I rarely dream, so find it interesting to hear about others' dreams. You seem to have your life in balance, so let the dreams be dreams and don't worry too much about that tiger.
I've never seen a kingfisher, although I've heard there is at least one hereabouts on the river that runs through our village. I think you're very fortunate to actually see one - and actually catching a fish, too! A proper sighting is quite a rare occurrence.
I feel that both your blog and your dream show how in tune you are with nature - and that can be both beautiful and cruel as well as awesome. I feel it's a reflection of your respect and wonder at the world around you (if that makes sense).
I am lucky enough to have seen a Kingfisher - beautiful creatures. Disturbing dream after that though. I have very odd dreams often around 5 in the morning. My Hub doesn't appear to dream much. Although my son does.
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